Prolific fundraiser Sharon Hands took on the role of Mrs Claus as she hand-delivered festive hampers to local people in Stapleford.

The 52-year-old, head of a charitable bunch known as Shazza’s Angels, spent six hours giving the gifts to people who had been nominated by their friends and family.

The hampers contained everything a family could need for a festive feast – including turkey, tea and coffee and a Christmas pudding.

Mrs Hands, who works as a night shift manager for a food company, has devoted hours of her spare time over the past 12 months organising raffles, pub collections, stalls, auctions and events to raise money for the hampers.

She said: “Last year we handed out single gifts to old people in Stapleford and they enjoyed it so much that I decided to raise money all year round to put the hampers together.”

Shazza’s Angels, based in Stapleford, raised £680 for the hampers, which were donated by Bakkavor Welcome Foods, in Sutton-in-Ashfield.

Tesco and Broxtowe Borough Council also donated some food to Mrs Hands’ collection.

She said: “One lady was crying. They were amazed. People couldn’t believe that someone wanted to give them something for nothing.

“In fact a few people even wanted to give me money for the hampers. I came home exhausted; my legs are killing me, but it was worth it.”

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Denise Stevenson, whose husband is 90 years old, received one of the hampers, which were delivered on Saturday.

She said: “It was a lovely surprise. You don’t expect people to give you things. It’s just really lovely and nice.

“It has lots of things in it for Christmas dinner and treats. Everyone will be round at my house on the day now.”

Mrs Hands, of Copeland Avenue, Stapleford, has raised thousands of pounds for charity over the past 15 years.

Her work is all the more remarkable as not only has she been diagnosed with a rare form of arthritis which makes getting around painful, but her husband Trevor has also recently been diagnosed with stomach cancer.

She has raised money for a young girl diagnosed with terminal cancer, as well as for a four-year old with leukaemia, enabling her parents to take time off work to care for her.

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Mrs Hands, who first got the fundraising bug when she took part in a charity parachute jump in Chilwell at the age of 15, also raised £6,000 to provide sensory toys for a young child who has had multiple heart operations.

She said: “I love the thrill of achieving what you want to achieve. It’s nice because you never know how much money you’re going to raise.

“Today was quite emotional for me because we have fundraising all year. To see it all come together was really nice.”

Mrs Hands had her charitable efforts recognised last month, when she won in the Editor’s Choice category at the Nottingham Post Heroes Awards.